In a recent Instagram post shared by The Who, Pete Townshend issued a statement to let the fans know that he will miss a special event to honor Roger Daltrey. In his public message addressed both to the fans and Daltrey, Townshend explained the reason why he won’t attend Roger’s ‘Ovation’ at Teenage Cancer Trust:
“I am sorry to say that I will not be performing with Roger at his Ovation event on Sunday 24th March. It was assumed by the organizers that I would be appearing after the two Who shows with orchestra, but in fact I will be in New York doing TV shows to support the opening of The Who’s ‘Tommy’ on Broadway which happens on March 28th. There is also a special event on March 27th, the night before opening. The times overlapped and I have left it rather late to make a public announcement. I’m sorry for anyone who feels I have let them down, my New York dates have been on my calendar for several months and I have tried to address this calendar conflict with Roger and Who management without any result.”
The Who guitarist also ensured the fans that Daltrey was ‘perfectly capable’ of performing without him during the event. He continued:
“That said, Roger is perfectly capable of blowing your minds in a solo show without me and has a wonderful array of guests lined up to celebrate his 24 years of producing and performing at the annual Teenage Cancer Trust Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, Roger should have a knighthood for his Teenage Cancer Trust campaigning. Happily, I will most certainly be appearing alongside Roger for the Who orchestral shows on the 18th and 20th of March. I love you Rog, knock ‘em dead. See you soon for rehearsals.”
Did The Who Come To An End?
For the last couple of years, both Daltrey and Townshend implied the possibility of ending their Who careers. In an interview with NME in 2023, Roger mentioned that he didn’t see the point of making new Who music anymore. He explained:
“What’s the point? What’s the point of records? We released an album four years ago, and it did nothing. It’s a great album too, but there isn’t the interest out there for new music these days.”
Similarly, in an interview with Record Collector, Townshend admitted the Who’s concert at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk felt like the end of an era. The guitarist stated:
“I think it’s time for Roger and I to go to lunch and have a chat about what happens next. Because Sandringham shouldn’t feel like the end of anything, but it feels like the end of an era.”
Even though the plans for The Who’s future remain uncertain, there are still several shows on the way for fans to enjoy. The Who is set to perform at Teenage Cancer Trust benefit shows at Royal Albert Hall on March 18 and 20, 2024.
